Manfrotto has announced a new line of backpacks and accessories, the Pro Light series. The new line includes backpacks designed for both still photographers and videographers, holsters and rain covers, all designed with an emphasis on portability and versatility. The five styles of backpacks for still photographers offer side access for another route to your gear and are priced from $220 - $310 USD/£199.95 - £249.95 GBP. See the video and press release below for more information.

Upper Saddle River, N.J. (August 11, 2014) –Manfrotto, a leading global distributor of premium photo, video and lighting support products and accessories, proudly introduces its new Pro Light Bags Collection, designed for on-the-move professional photographers, videographers and advanced hobbyists. Crafted using the most innovative materials and design techniques, the Pro Light bags are the lightest carrying solutions in the Manfrotto range, while providing superior protection and ease of access.

"Manfrotto offers the most comprehensive range of premier quality carrying solutions on the market today, each of which was designed with specific users and applications in mind," said Paul Zakrzewski, Director of Marketing for Manfrotto Distribution, Inc. "The Pro Light Collection is certainly no exception in that it was created to meet the needs of professionals on the go. These bags were designed specifically for professionals who need to carry a lot of high end gear in a comfortable, highly-protective case and then have quick, easy access to all that gear at the drop of a hat."

Manfrotto's Pro Light bag line offers a comprehensive range of carrying solutions designed specifically for photographers and videographers who need to bring a considerable amount of gear on active assignments. Versatile, functional and extremely ergonomic, Manfrotto's Pro Light photo bag range features a number of intuitive, creative solutions that facilitate rapid access to equipment. The 3N1 Backpacks, for example, enable users to rotate the backpack to their chest and access their gear via the fast-opening side pocket within seconds -- without ever having to remove the bag from their body.

"Innovation is a major part of the Manfrotto DNA and the Pro Light Collection is representative of that," noted Zakrzewski. "As the needs and preferences of the photo and video communities continue to evolve, so must the equipment that we develop to support them in their work. With the addition of the Pro Light Collection to the Manfrotto family of bags, we now offer innovative, reliable carrying solutions for all skill levels, personal preferences, and imaging missions."

Pro Light bags have top wearability and ergonomic access solutions, combined with a stylish Italian design true to the Manfrotto brand. Its tough outer layer and high-resistant nylon legs provide the greatest protection to the gear inside.

Maximum Protection: At the core of each Pro Light bag is the innovative Manfrotto Camera Protection System (CPS). This unique system has been specifically engineered to provide maximum protection for the most vulnerable equipment in the center of the bag. Strict laboratory tests confirm that the innovative 3D shock-absorbing foam dividers provide the highest level of protection and resistance where it really counts.

Unmatched Flexibility: Pro Light bags come in a variety of sizes and configurations, all with ample room to fit a substantial amount of gear. The removable CPS dividers allow users tremendous flexibility in organizing and packing their equipment. Numerous design innovations provide quick, easy access to gear at a moment's notice. Some of the bag options also allow ample room for a laptop, tablet, and other electronic gear useful in shooting, such as element covers and protections for photo and video cameras.

Attention to Detail and Design: All Pro Light Bags have been conceived with attention-to-detail and design, using the latest innovative materials and fabrics. Every element and feature of each bag was created with a specific purpose. Removable and ergonomic waist straps ensure stability and comfort, and eliminate unwanted tilting. Pocket positions, zipper pullers, tripod holders and straps have been designed according to the most innovative carrying solutions for instant access.

Manfrotto's Pro Light Bags Collection includes a total of 28 product SKUs, including holsters, photo backpacks, video backpacks, rolling organizers, video cases, and accessories such as element covers and camera straps. The bags are available now at retailers nationwide, and range in price from $44.00 to $550.00.

Manfrotto Spectra 1X1 FT is an extremely versatile LED panel; it provides a beautiful soft light, to match the requirements of demanding filmmakers, videograpers and photographers. The illuminance is greater than 1400 LUX at a distance of 1m and the color temperature can be regulated from 3200°K to 5600°K.

The Photoshop Photography Program will be available during the week of September 16, 2013

During today's keynote at the Photoshop World conference in Las Vegas, Adobe is showcasing how photography workflows will evolve to take advantage of an increasingly connected world. This includes a tour of how easy it is today to use Creative Cloud to make your content and creations available anywhere, plus the power of Behance to showcase work. We also highlight some of the exciting new technologies that we're working on for Photoshop CC and Lightroom; our roadmap for making our photography products even more connected; and a peek at how we're planning to bring advanced Adobe digital imaging technology to mobile devices. You'll see these products and services become available in the not too distant future.

Throughout this week at Photoshop World, we're demoing some great digital imaging innovation and I hope you're as excited as we are about what's available today and what's coming soon, thanks to our talented teams of engineers.

Since introducing Photoshop CC, we've listened to feedback from a spectrum of our customers, from advanced professionals to casual enthusiasts. One common request was a solution specifically tailored for photographers. We listened, and at Photoshop World we’re announcing a special offer for our loyal Photoshop customers. Beginning today, customers who own Photoshop CS3 or higher are eligible for a special Creative Cloud membership offer that includes all of the following for just $9.99/month:

Photoshop CC

Lightroom 5

20 GB of online storage

Behance ProSite

Access to Creative Cloud Learn’s training resources

Ongoing upgrades and updates

To be clear, $9.99 is not an introductory price. It is the price for those of you who sign up by December 31, 2013. And here is a list of prices for the major regions outside of the US – keep in mind that these prices are exclusive of VAT/local taxes which vary by country.

North America $9.99 USD

European Union €9.99 EUR

EMEA non-EU $9.99 USD

Australia/New Zealand $9.99 AUD

Asia Pacific $9.99 USD

Latin America $9.99 USD

Japan ¥1,000 JPY

UK £7.14 GBP

This offer will be available the week of September 16th at the same time we introduce the new version of Lightroom 5.2. Visit the FAQ to learn more.

ASMP just sent a mass email to all subscribers alerting all of us to Facebooks new terms of service.

Facebook has just claimed the right to use or sell your identity, your content and your data without limit. They have nuked their own privacy policy, removing the right for you to keep anything private.

Here’s the most important language (strikethrough indicates language that is being removed. Bold text is used to indicate the new additions).

You can use your privacy settings to limit how your name and profile picture may be associated with commercial, sponsored, or related content (such as a brand you like) served or enhanced by us. You give us permission to use your name, and profile picture, content, and information in connection with commercial, sponsored, or relatedthat content (such as a brand you like) served or enhanced by us, subject to the limits you place. This means, for example, that you permit a business or other entity to pay us to display your name and/or profile picture with your content or information, without any compensation to you. If you have selected a specific audience for your content or information, we will respect your choice when we use it.

The Section-by-Section Summary of Updates takes pains to claim that Facebook has the right to collect and make use of data that it finds “when you are using Fcebook or when Facebook is running.” This probably gives Facebook a license to collect, use, share and sell most of your web browsing (unless you are running software to block cookies) and much of what your mobile phone is gathering, such as your location, phone calls, etc.

They are already collecting a lot of this information. The screenshot below is from my Facebook feed a few hours after I did a search for a hotel in Reston on a totally unrelated site. Facebook is already collecting, using and selling this kind of information. They are now asking for irrevokable permission to continue, and to add your photos to the mix.

As with the Instagram Terms of Use, I believe that Facebook is asking for open-ended permission here that does not serve the needs of users. This is an overly broad agreement that shifts the control over a person or company’s content and identity too far into the hands of Facebook.

I came across this amazing video created by one man using a Canon EOS C100, a few choice lenses and Aftereffects skills that are off the chart.

This really shows what can be done on a budget with serious pre-production, a solid idea, and the focus and attention to detail to create a great finished product.

I'd actually love to to this as a whole video series.

Arya is the last remaining member of her family, a lineage with a unique genetic code that grants the ability to survive the folding of temporal and spatial boundaries... In short, she can teleport. Tasked with exploring new planets, she is in search of something that will explain who exactly she is and where she comes from.

More Info: For those interested, I shot this with a Canon c100. Lenses used were the Canon 24mm IS prime, the Canon 50mm 1.4, the 100mm Macro IS 2.8 and the Tokina 11-16mm. By far, most of it was shot on the 24 and the 100. The final shot was done with my trusty 5DII as it was a pickup. There was no crew on this shoot. Just myself and Bianca. The shoot took 3 days and post production took significantly longer. All the visuals were done in after effects. I used Element3D a good amount. Thank you to everyone who helped me out during all the time spent editing. You know who you are.

New things are happening at Jack Studios We have recently expanded our studio spaces and now offer a total of 8 full service studio spaces in the heart of Manhattan. We also expanded our equipment room making it over 2000 square feet and stocked full of brand new photo equipment! If there is ever anything at all I can do to help please do not hesitate to ask.

It gives me immense pleasure to invite you all to the opening of my upcoming solo show. The show will debut at ClampArt on Thursday, September 12th and will remain open until October 12th. Darshan is a series of constructed photographs of Indian Gods and Godesses. Please feel free to visit www.projectdarshan.com to learn more. The official press release can be seen here.

Just came across this very cool product for those shooting DSLR video.

This elegantly designed yet ruggedly crafted device protects the fragile mini-HDMI port on your DSLR with a rock solid clamp that adapts the mini-HDMI to a full-size HDMI.

As some have found out the hard way, the mini HDMI port on a DSLR is fragile and very expensive to repair if damaged. With the LockPort you will ensure your camera is protected allowing you the freedom to connect monitors, electronic viewfinders or digital recorders without running the risk of damaging your camera.

The LockPort is made to fit the Canon 5D Mark II, Mark III, 7D, the Nikon 800 or 600 series and is now available with a USB connection as well. With multiple mounting options, the LockPort is a 'must have' accessory for any serious cinematographer or photographer.

The LockPort5 fits your Canon 5D Mark III and is available in with the HDMI adapter for the front or rear.

It can also be made to fit your Redrock Micro mount with an attachment.

The LockPort 7 kit works the same way as the LockPort5, but it is custom made to fit your Canon 7D.